The former Bishop of Durham Rt Rev Paul Butler is among seven clergy facing disciplinary charges by the Church of England over their handling of abuse disclosures against the late Christian barrister John Smyth.
However, former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey who was also criticised in the Makin Review into the church’s failures in the case won’t face any disciplinary proceedings.
Lord Carey was one of ten clergy the National Safeguarding Team (NST) sought to bring disciplinary proceedings against in the light of the review. However, in a statement published on its website this week, the Church has now announced it won't be taking any action against him and two other clergy - Rev Paul Perkin and Rev Hugh Palmer.
No reason for this has been given.
The NST will now initiate proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) against Bishop Paul, Rev Roger Combes, Rev Sue Colman, Rev Andrew Cornes, Rev Tim Hastie-Smith, Rev Nick Stott and Rev John Woolmer.
The Church says that victims and survivors and all those criticised in the Makin review have been informed and offered support.
Smyth, who died in 2018, abused more than 100 children and young men in the UK and Africa. He met many of them at Christian holiday camps in the 1970s and 80s.
The Makin review which was published last year concluded that Smyth’s abuse was known about by many within the Church but wasn’t acted upon.
It led to the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2024.
Bishop Paul, who was also a lead bishop for safeguarding, was asked to step back from ministry in November.
Lord Carey handed in his permission to officiate (PTO) in the diocese of Oxford in December 2024.